East Side Crips Gang Member and Sisters Sentenced for Stealing Identities and Filing Fraudulent Tax Returns

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—An East Side Crips gang member and his two sisters were sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison, probation and restitution to the IRS. Attorney General Bondi’s Office of Statewide Prosecution prosecuted the individuals after an investigation by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office revealed that they were stealing people’s social security numbers and filing fraudulent tax returns.

Justino Santana had been sentenced to prison in 2007 for racketeering, and he committed these tax fraud offenses while in custody. Santana stole the identities of victims and then used his two sisters, Leticia Salas and Lucina Santana-Gonzalez, to file the fraudulent tax returns and cash the refund checks. The sisters would then deposit portions of the stolen tax refunds into his commissary account in prison.

Justino Santana pled guilty on Sept. 18 to one count of organized fraud and five counts of identity theft, and he was sentenced to eight years in prison, which is to be served consecutive to his current prison sentence, four years of probation, and restitution to the IRS.

Leticia Salas was charged with one count of organized fraud and five counts of identity theft, and she was sentenced to two years of prison, four years of probation, and restitution to the IRS.

Lucina Santana-Gonzalez was charged with one count of organized fraud and four counts of identity theft, and she was sentenced to two years of prison, four years of probation, and restitution to the IRS.